Stem Cell Research

Ruth Phillips

Current Events

Period 5

What are stem cells?

Cells can develop into any cell They can be renewed through cell division for

long periods of time Cell division can help renew other types of

cells Embryonic stem cells Adult stem cells

History of Stem Cell Research

1900’s scientists figured out that most cells originally come from a stem cell

1963 Canadian researchers documented that stem cells were able to self renew

1998 James Thomson grew stem cells in a laboratory

March 9, 2009 Obama’s executive order removes the restrictions on stem cell research

Argument

Should Stem Cell

research be used in order

to help people in need?

Pros and Cons (Embryonic Stem Cell Research)

An embryo is not a human being

Give someone their life back

Move scientific research forward

An embryo is a human being

This type of research isn’t needed

Pros and Cons (Adult Stem Cell Research)

Why not? Heal people Help people rebuild

their lives Taken from the body

without causing harm Embryos aren’t harmed

or disposed of

They are less effective than embryonic stem cells

Holding scientific research back

Effects of This Issue

World: This could help people all over the world rebuild their lives.

United States: The U.S. could really set the standard for the rest of the world when it comes to this topic. Stem Cells could help people in the U.S. rebuild their lives.

Me: If I ever am in a situation where I need certain cells then I could or could not be given stem cells to get better.

My Opinion

I believe that we should research adult stem

cells and find out how they can be used to

heal people. I am against the research of

embryonic stem cells because I believe that an

embryo is a person and that a person should

never be harmed.

Questions to think about

What do you think about Obama’s lift on the

restriction of stem cell research?

Why is it necessary to use human embryos for

research when adult stem cells have the same

power to heal?

Works Cited

Denver Post. 13 Apr. 2009. Denver Post. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://www.denverpost.com/harsanyi/ci_11900353>.

Non-embryonic stem cell breakthroughs have gone unnoticed. 2004. BNET. 2 May 2009 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0876/is_91/ai_n15338777/>.

Singer, Peter. "Research Using Human Embryos Is Morally Acceptable." At Issue: The Ethics of Abortion. Ed. Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Arapahoe High School. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010012212&source=gale&userGroupName=litt24484&version=1.0>.

Stem Cell Information. The National Institutes of Health. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/>.

Stem Cell Research History. Stem Cell Foundation. 4 May 2009 <http://www.ukscf.org/research/history.html>.

Time Magazine 12 Aug. 2001. Time Magazine. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101010820-170839,00.html>.

3 C.F.R. 1 (2009). This is Obama’s executive order.